Al Raha Beach
Al Raha Beach is a real estate project developed by Aldar Properties[1] in the Al Raha area of the Abu Dhabi (emirate), United Arab Emirates.
An ultimate water city
According to Aldar properties, Al Raha beach waterfront is the "ultimate water city", a "great Arabian water city" and "one of the greatest waterfront cities in the world". Aldar’s claim seems to apply primarily to the 500 hectares (6’8 million square meters) of surface that will be occupied by the development which, after completion, will extend eleven kilometers to the north of the Abu Dhabi to Dubai highway at Al Raha Beach, allowing about 120.000 people to live in it. Yet, the promoters declare that the project “is not only about vastness.” They stress the city’s “unique location” along a “sheltered coastline, islands, bays and marinas shaped by inlets and canals and linked by bridges.” “Sheltered coastline” refers to the development’s overlooking a creek (khur) which flows between the continent and four adjacent islands, i.e. Sas an-Nakhl, As Samaliya, Al Qurayya and Yas. This means hindrance of open sea views but also protection against the high seas.[2]